Winners - Underwater Photography Contests
June 2018 Photo Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS NICK & CAROLINE ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: The Dentist by Walter Bassi
When judging any underwater photography competition, the first thing we do is ask of each image: Is it in focus? The main subject has to be pin sharp. Is it exposed correctly?
We then look at lighting (photography is all about light) and composition. Backscatter, hot spots of light, messy backgrounds all might see your image lose out.
Then there are other considerations that might get you knocked out of the first round: Was the image taken underwater? After all it is an underwater photography competition! Were any animals distressed or harassed to get the image? Was any environmental damage done to get the shot?
Once we have whittled out the images that do not pass these criteria, it is time to get down to picking a winner. A shot that makes us both go wow – I wish I had taken that!
June 2018
The June entry numbers dipped a little, perhaps due to all the good weather at the moment! We hope you were all out diving. Whilst the number of entries was lower, the quality was excellent. Here is what we thought…
Our Favourites
Caroline
The Dentist by Walter Bassi: This is a super behaviour shot of a cleaner shrimp getting to work on the moray. The lighting is just right and the angle of the moray really works for me. This really stands out. Super.
Fountain in the Blue by Jun Ouyang: I would have like to see this image on a bigger scale. To get the movement of the water and the diver in such a pleasing position (in waring pink too) is great.
Animal Magnetism by Sean Steininger: Great to get this whole Whaleshark in the shot, with lovely soft natural lighting. The surface of the water really adds to the shot.
Clingfish Leading Lines by Craig Beasley: I really like this shot. The diagonal position of the clingfish, with all the lines leading to him works really well. Great shot.
Seahorse by Paul Hewart: Lovely shot of a seahorse, albeit a little central. The yellow seahorse jumps out of the screen. However, it is hard to award images such as this, as the seahorse is not in a natural environment, and whilst I hope the photographer has not moved it, I cannot be sure. Giving shots like this credit also encourages others to try to recreate it, so whilst this is technically a great image, it will only get a mention here.
Nick
Blue Spotted Ray by Glynn Philipps: I love this shot and the way it is presented. There is eye contact at eye-level, and the colours against the black really stand out.
The Dentist by Walter Bassi: I like the way the shrimp and the moray’s teeth are the focal point of this shot and the colours, against the black, are truly vibrant.
Yellow gold of Bergeggi by Walter Bassi: This is an interesting shot. I am not usually a fan of a circular image, but this one works with the vignetting around the subject.
Fountain in the Blue by Jun Ouyang: This is a wonderfully unique idea. The complimentary colours of pink and blue really work well.
The Flying Gurnard by Paul Hewart: This is a real eye-catcher. A great angle and eye-contact on the subject and a great use of depth of field for the gurnard in the background.
The Harlequin Glass Slug by Irma Korb: This is a lovely shot with great composition. The focus and depth of field on the slug is just right and the green bokeh of the background is perfect.
A Beauty in the dark by Dean Spraakman: This is eye catching due to the colours against the black. The subject is probably a bit too central for me and a larger depth of field with the whole subject in focus may have worked better. It is all, of course, subjective.
After much deliberations between our two judges….
There were some good shots this month, with both macro and wide angle shots to choose from, and as always we picked out different shots from each other. Here are the results:
Winner: The Dentist by Walter Bassi
Runner-Up: Fountain in the Blue by Jun Ouyang
Congratulations to the those who were placed – some really nice images here, and well done to all those that entered. We cannot wait to see what July has to offer.
Scubaverse.com’s July 2018 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: Basket star in the pure darkness by Arnaud Guillebert
Another great month full of wonderful underwater images!
When judging any underwater photography competition, the first thing I do is ask of each image: Is it in focus? The main subject has to be pin sharp. Is it exposed correctly?
I then look at lighting (photography is all about light) and composition. Backscatter, hot spots of light, messy backgrounds: all might see your image lose out.
Then there are other considerations that might get you knocked out of the first round: Was the image taken underwater? After all it is an underwater photography competition! Were any animals distressed or harassed to get the image? Was any environmental damage done to get the shot?
Once I have whittled out the images that do not pass these criteria, it is time to get down to picking a winner. A shot that makes me go wow – I wish I had taken that!
Three squid by Min seok Jeon: I love squid and this shot with three against a black background really stands out. I love the colours and shapes they create as they stretch across the frame.
Hippocampus guttulatus (Cuvier, 1829) by Marco Spoto: What a lovely scene. Great that you did not disturb the worm on taking this shot. I would have liked to have seen the subject isolated more though, losing the backscatter and seabed which can distact the eye.
Turtle in its coral garden by Claude Lespagne: What I like about this image is the snorkeler at the surface looking down on the scene. It shows that you do not have to be a diver to enjoy a stunning Red Sea scene like this one.
Ghost Goby by MichaelG: I love the colours, the expression on the goby’s face and most of all the texture of the coral. Lovely use of depth of field.
Hedgehog by Sofia Tenggrono: Great use of a snoot. You have lit up just enough of the environment to show us where this nudibranch lives, but still have highlighted the subject really well. The complimentary colours are lovely.
yellow cutie by Cedric Peneau: Lovely framing of a really cute little fish. The colours jump out from my screen.
REFLET by DIDIER PASQUINI: I like the motion in the tail and the reflection in this image of the biggest fish in the sea. I always like a bit more space in front of a fish when possible – but I know this will have been hard with a big Whale Shark.
Basket star in the pure darkness by arnaud.guillebert: This is more like a fine art image than the usual underwater imagery you see. Lovely lighting showing off the texture of this basket star.
After much deliberation by our judge….
The results
Winner: Basket star in the pure darkness by arnaud.guillebert
Runner-Up: yellow cutie by Cedric Peneau
Third: Ghost Goby by MichaelG
Highly Commended: Three squid by Min seok Jeon
Congratulations to those who were placed – there were a number of excellent images, and well done to all those that entered.
Scubaverse.com’s January 2023 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: The Herd by Cedric Peneau
Another great month full of wonderful underwater images!
When judging any underwater photography competition, the first thing I do is ask of each image: Is it in focus? The main subject has to be pin sharp. Is it exposed correctly?
I then look at lighting (photography is all about light) and composition. Backscatter, hot spots of light, messy backgrounds: all might see your image lose out.
Then there are other considerations that might get you knocked out of the first round: Was the image taken underwater? After all it is an underwater photography competition! Were any animals distressed or harassed to get the image? Was any environmental damage done to get the shot?
Once I have whittled out the images that do not pass these criteria, it is time to get down to picking a winner. A shot that makes me go wow – I wish I had taken that!
Longimanus by night by Claude Lespagne: Of the three wonderful Oceanic Whitetip Shark images you entered this month, this is my favourite. The reflection on the surface is sublime and I love the way the pilot fish really catch the eye against a dark night sea.
Underwater doughnut shop? by Bill Passmore: The detail in this simple shot of a coral head is super. I love the title too!
Little frogfish, big pollution by Cedric Peneau: I always worry about images like this one. Who put that battery there? Was it a diver in order to get a shot? I hope not. What it does to well is show how tiny this beautiful frogfish is.
The Herd by Cedric Peneau: Wow! I love this shot, there is so much going on and yet the subject is still really strong in the frame.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Sofia Tenggrono: This image really caught my eye. The focus is not what we would usually expect, but because the body and the glittering edges are the subject, it still works.
GREAT ENCOUNTER by DIDIER PASQUINI: Lovely shot that tells a story. You can imagine being this snorkeler and have an encounter of a lifetime with the biggest fish in the sea. You can imagine this image in a brochure.
Below the surface by arnaud.guillebert: These shots are so difficult to get right. This is another shot that tells a story and could grace a diving magazine. Initially you see the main shark subject, but as you spend more time, you see all the other sharks in the background.
After much deliberation by our judge….
The results
Winner: The Herd by Cedric Peneau
Runner-Up: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Sofia Tenggrono
Third: Longimanus by night by Claude Lespagne
Highly Commended: Below the surface by arnaud.guillebert
Congratulations to those who were placed – there were a number of excellent images, and well done to all those that entered.
Scubaverse.com’s December 2022 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.
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